Acts of Forgiveness: Faith Journeys as a Gay Priest

When asked if I would review Acts of Forgiveness, I immediately said, "Yes." First of all, I was intrigued by the title, Acts of Forgiveness.  For me forgiveness is the greatest gift we can give ourselves. I have written about it here in the blog several times. However,  I was also drawn to the book because it is a memoir of a fellow clergy person. 

From the forward to the final page, emotions about church, religion and the treatment of others rose within me. As a woman, who was called to ministry as a child, but not able to answer that call until middle age, I understand Fr. Ted's fears, his trepidation, and most importantly, his joys at following his calling. In fact, I found many parallels to my own faith journey, the least of which was writing.

What surprised and thrilled me was his relationship with one of my social justice heroes, Bishop Emeritus, Desmond Tutu. Reading his accounts of his time with Bishop Tutu, I could hear the good Bishop in my head, as I had the blessing of seeing him at a rally several years ago in Springfield, MA.  Fr. Ted's accounts of their times together were so well documented, that I almost felt as if I had been in the room with them.

This memoir, for me, was a thoughtful, loving and forgiving account of the life of a very prominent priest, diplomat, writer and educator. Fr. Ted's involvement with the Episcopal church as well as WHO and the US government was instrumental in bringing about awareness and programs that assist those suffering from HIV/AIDS. 

At the least, the reader of this memoir will find concrete ways to forgive others for their cruel behavior. At the most, the reader will discover a fellow human that has been able to rise above every obstacle life has thrown him and still come out smiling. 

I highly recommend Acts of Forgiveness for all those struggling to find their calling, struggling to forgive or simply wondering how to move forward in a world that often seems difficult to navigate.

~~~

 

About the Author:


Ted Karpf is a priest, public servant, international diplomat, journalist, university administrator and educator. He was educated in New York, Texas and Massachusetts. A gay man, Ted is a father and grandfather. He has been and remains a man who reflects the times in which he has lived while offering a hopeful vision for the future. Ted watches clouds and tests the winds and prays while residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

You can find Ted at his website https://www.tedkarpf.com/